Thursday, September 8, 2011

On this glorious feast of Our Lady's birth

Let me introduce you a little more to our little lady who is named for our dear Heavenly Mother under one of her most beloved titles...

This is Avila Ami  (or Baby Ah-lah-lah, according to the two year old speak of Baby O). She has only been outside the womb for not even a week, but we can tell she already has a magnetic personality based on the way her siblings flock to her every chance they get. BigBoy even commented this morning, "Why was I ever mopey about a little sister?" He originally thought a little brother would be a better idea but understands now that God knows best.

She is the teeniest, tiniest baby I have ever had, weighing a full two pounds less than The Professor when he was born. I can't tell you the number of times we've all said, "She's sooooo tiny!" because she is!!!

Obviously, her first name comes from St. Teresa of Avila, who was a spiritual mother to St. Therese and all the Carmelites, who's intercession we are most thankful for regarding this little one's presence in our family. It also means "little bird" which seemed to fit the direction her room was shaping up! Now Husband wasn't keen on it right away. He doesn't like "place names" that much, you know... Cheyenne, Dakota, Georgia. But he came around to Avila all on his own, especially after seeing a picture of Margaret's little First Communicant in Faith and Family magazine and realizing that she was a fairly normal kid so maybe it wasn't too weird of a name after all. :)

As Margaret pointed out, her middle name can be pronounced "uh-ME" like the french word for loved one or friend, "amie". But since she will most likely be spending the bulk of her childhood in Texas, it will also be pronounced "Amy" because it's just easier to say it that way and have people understand... I guess it just depends on whether or not I'm in a foreign frame of mind at the time.

Now, I had spent some time looking at September feast days and talking with this little one about which days would make a great birthday. (I will write up her birth story soon, once the shock and awe wears off a little. Suffice it to say that the Holy Spirit was in charge of this birth plan and we know for a fact that "miracle" is not too melodramatic to describe the situation at all.) The 5th was Blessed Mother Teresa's feast day. Today, the 8th, is the birthday of the Mother of God, who wouldn't choose today as a birthday? The 12th is the feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary and a very special day in our family's liturgical year. I even looked at my due date, the 15th (Our Lady of Sorrows) and the 23rd (St. Padre Pio). Never did I think to check the 2nd! In fact, I remember not even really considering the 5th as a possibility telling a friend that that would be "WAAAAY too early for me to have a baby!" It wasn't until we arrived home that I had a chance to look at the liturgical calendar and discovered that the 2nd is the feast day of the Martyrs of September, a group of French seminarians who were martyred during the French Revolution!

So if this little one someday jets off to study French at the Sorbonne, I will not be surprised.
 

P.S. Sorry to cut this short so abruptly but I've been told that the problem with being severely anemic and having had major abdominal surgery is that I can't even think about starting iron supplements for two weeks since they can have a negative effect on the digestion. So when my energy is gone, it's gone! It's taken me two days to put even this much together.

21 comments:

  1. Congratulations--she is just beautiful!!!

    My newly 7 year old's birthday is also on Sept 2nd (the piano cake wanting child)

    Today is my husband's b-day and tomorrow is mine....the month is full of feast days for sure!!

    God bless you and that sweet baby, you did a great job for no energy!!!

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  2. Oh, Charlotte! I'm still reveling in your happiness. She is beautiful!

    I understand completely how it feels to be without energy. I, too, was *severely* anemic after my last baby (almost 2 years ago now!). It was a HUGE feat for me to just get into my husbands truck to go visit the baby in the nicu. I had lost so much blood leading up to the birth and then after the c-section I was critically low. I didn't have an infusion, though several doctors argued with me to have one.

    I also understand about the digestion and iron supplements, but could you try to get more meat into your diet? My husband would make me steak everyday. Steak and eggs became a regular breakfast for a while.

    You will continue to be in my prayers for a complete and quick recovery from the surgery and for your iron levels to come back up.

    Love and prayers,
    Kelly

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  3. Oohhh!! She is just perfect! How I wish I was nearby and could come over and hold that tiny little girl!! Please giver her a extra little hug and a kiss from me! ♥

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  4. She is beautiful, as is her name! Can't wait to hear more of her birth story! :)

    Also, you might want to ask your doctor about taking colace along with your iron supplements if you're worried about GI side effects. (Also drink lots of water.) Recovering from a C-section is rough work; restoring those iron reserves will really help the process! (Hope you don't mind me adding my two cents...the postpartum nurse in me just can't help it.) ;)

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  5. Rest is the order of the day! I'm surprised you wrote that much.;) She's a dolly....continued prayers for all of you!

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  6. Oh my goodness, I was SO looking forward to this post because I knew you'd describe it beautifully.

    And you did!

    (I hope I didn't botch my explanation too badly; I had to clack out the post on my smart phone, as I was in North Dakota at the time.)

    She is such a honey, Charlotte, and I know your birth story will be a humdinger. Do you like how I'm already putting pressure on you for another post?

    I don't expect it for at least a week, though. I want you & Avila to get LOTS of rest! Except...wait a minute. With all of those doting big brothers & sisters, you should have plenty of time to type. ;)

    Welcome home! Happy feast of the Maternity of Mary!

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  7. Oh, she's just perfect, Charlotte!!! God bless you both!

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  8. Oh I love that picture. She's so beautiful. And so tiny! I've gotten so used to my ginormous Anthony I can't even fathom such a dainty little lass. (The constant refrain at our house is "He's so huge! I can't believe how large that baby is!")

    Thank you so much for sharing her photo and a bit of her story. I can't wait for the rest of it. But I will because even more than hearing her story I want you to rest.

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  9. you're right sooo tiny and sooo perfect. a hug and a kiss from us.

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  10. Congratulations, Charlotte!

    She is so beautiful ... and her name is gorgeous, too.

    Blessings galore!

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  11. Oh my, she's so beautiful and dainty. A lovely name for an adorable baby. Congrats and hope you get to feeling better.

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  12. What a sweet little one! She looks alert and smiling for the camera!

    Take it easy, Charlotte. Sending lots of hugs and love to little one!

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  13. She is beautiful! Enjoy your babymoon!

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  14. Congratulations to you and your family. I have been praying for you and your recovery. My last baby was born via c-section, he was baby number 7. It was unexpected and through us for a loop. I am expecting baby number 8 next month and feel much more prepared this time knowing what is coming ;0)
    Take this time to really rest up, you will get there and will be feeling better soon. I love her name and she is so beautiful. She has the sweetest look on her face.
    God bless you!!
    Kirsten

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  15. Please take care of yourself, Charlotte. You are such an inspiration for so many. Ah-la-la is a little miracle, for sure! Sugar and spice and everything nice!!!

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  16. She's just so beautiful! You rest.

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  17. Oh She is precious! Now I see a little bit of her brother in her.. she's adorable. Kiss her for me!

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  18. I think her name is beautiful. Truly gorgeous.

    I hope you get to feeling like yourself (well, as much as you can with a newborn) soon.

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  19. Oh, dear Charlotte, we'll take what we can get! Thanks so much for the peek of the beautiful, precious girl! Now go rest! xo

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  20. I have been thinking about you guys so much! Jessica was telling me all about you and sweet baby while we were driving up to the hospital here. You are right about the miracle part and I am so happy and pleased for you guys.
    Get your strength back up!! God bless you all!

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  21. Charlotte, she is so adorable! Congratulations again.

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Thank you for sharing your thoughts and yourself!